Big words for a little prince: “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” This is one of the many pearls of wisdom found in this famous work by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. With over 200 million copies sold and more than 500 translations, “The Little Prince” is one of the world’s most successful books. It was first published in April 1943 in New York, where the French author and commercial pilot was living in exile.

The philosophical fairy tale with its loving illustrations has inspired the imagination of children and adults for 80 years. The storyline: the little prince leaves his home, an asteroid where he lives with his beloved Rose, to visit Earth. There, in the desert, he meets a pilot in distress – the narrator of the story. They recount their experiences and adventures to each other. Other encounters with protagonists like the snake or the fox also revolve around human and social themes such as friendship, love, trust, peace and sustainability. The stamp shows the book cover featuring our little hero looking thoughtfully to the sky, as he does so often.